How to start 207 businesses and expand your mind

I just read a fantastic post on arkarthick.com titled "Unfold your mind power", which lists 10 awesome ways to go about it. Worth a read, for sure.

Here's a quote it referenced; I love it:

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”

– Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Here are 5 ways—I'd like to think—I'm unfolding my mind power, maybe they could work for you:

1. Read blogs everyday. First thing in the morning. It's the new "newspaper".

Get Google reader; subscribe to various blogs that interest you; Pop on daily and click on the titles that most interest you. [Then share your favorites on twitter.]

2. Play Words With Friends [on your smartphone].

I had no idea that "aa" was a word, btw. But seriously, it forces you to think, you learn new words, and it's easy to play with your friends.

3. Work out—everyday if possible—and use the time to think through problems and challenges you're facing; both in business and life.

It's amazing the things you can come up with on a 30 minute run.

I've started two hundred and seven businesses in my head while running. For the record I've done at least 3 of them.

4. Seek and listen to new music on a regular basis [this is one from their list, but I believe in it].

Music of all kinds. Use Pandora, Music Map, or any other popular web tools to explore. New music gives you new feelings and changes moods. It's powerful. 

My itunes is ridiculous. How many of you can hit shuffle-all-songs and be comfortable about every song it plays if you were in front of an audience? Haha. Not me.

Mine would go from Lil' Wayne to Dave Matthews to a Christmas song to a Spanish love song to The Spice Girls to Classical to Salsa to Led Zeppelin to so-on and so-on. I'm all over the place.

5. Try to ask "why not?" before "why?"

It's amazing how differently you look at something if you start with "let's try it." instead of "why should I change it?"

For starters, you can't help but think of things you haven't thought before; [it]'s a different concept. Starting with why-do-it leaves you to think only in terms of what you already know. 

And you can practice this all day long. Think of how many ideas are presented or questions are asked of you in a day. Try it.

Personally, I'm going to consider some of the others on the list from the post. Particularly the language one and the foreign film one. I've always wanted to master another language anyway.

I'm thinking of buying a Rosetta Stone. Maybe Australian.